William Johnson never liked surprised visitors in his own home. Especially with a notice of a few days ahead, it gave him time to prepare for this visitor, he even sent his wife into town with their oldest son.
As he walked downstairs to greet the man that stood in front of him. The older Irish gentleman notices the Templar cross pinned to his upper coat collar. Johnson studied the younger man in front of him. A glint of arrogance twinkle in the man's eye as he stood there full of pride and smugness. William guesses that the man was to be in his early 30's with darker features that lead him to theorize the man was either Greek or Spanish.
"Martian Pronovost?" William asked as he outstretched his hand to shake.
"Yes, I do apologize about the short notice of my arrival but I am afraid my subject matter is only a few days behind me."
"You didn't speak of why you wished to speak to me, only that it was urgent."
Martian outstretched his hand suggesting they should go somewhere else. "I like to discuss why I am here then."
Johnson gave a crud short nod, he led the younger man into his personal study. Johnson offered the man a drink, he tried to get a sense at what kind of man he was while keeping his guard up.
Martin shook his head no at the fine brandy before taking a seat in the chair. "I've been in Paris for the last few years doing work for my branch of the Templar Order in Greece. I ran into someone who left me in quiet of pain, so I thought it is fair to warn you all."
Johnson took pause to try to comprehend who he was talking about. "Who?"
"Catherine Cormac,"
Johnson froze from where he stood, "no, she's dead." He tried to correct the other man. "Apparently not, the woman has been living in Paris for the last few years training under the assassin brotherhood. She is headed back to the Colonies with a goal in mind to purchase Native Land right from under you."
"How could she possibly survived?" Johnson whispered to himself.
When he had heard the news about the young girl's death, he was saddened for his brother in arms. The man had lost so much in that year. William's heart even sank at the fact that Catherine was dead. He had come to know the girl from when she was a small child, she was a curious, kind-hearted girl. The death of Azura was still fresh on everyone's mind even after four years. The event had been a downward spiral for Thomas Hickey.
Johnson wasn't sure what to say, only to take a seat at his desk. Martin strolled across the room to lean on the expensive wood. "She has masted a fortune and will be acting in the coming days to buy the land you were trying to take."
"We are buying it. for the natives own good to protect them from the outside. They can still live on the land, but they will be protected."
"This her misguided attemtpt as well. She thinks that harm will come to the natives under Templar protection."
William hummed in irritation before reaching for parchment and ink. "Our funds are practically gone, thanks to the Sons of Liberty to protest taxes."
"Well, I can help, I have a large sum of money that I can help with."
William looked slightly surprised at the offer, "what do you want in return?"
"Catherine Cormac, her and I have some unfinished business to attend too. This way, no one will have to know that Catherine is still alive and I can take her back to Europe."
William watched the younger man before him, wondering what kind of plot that was held for the younger girl. For now, he would have to agree until he could find out more information. "Very well,"
"How soon can you arrange meeting with the native tribes of this land?"
"Possible within a week,"
"Very well then. I will be staying in John's town until I hear back from you."
William watched the Greek Templar collect himself together before leaving the older man. Johnson took a moment to write a letter address to Haytham Kenway. William prided himself in hope's that he could talk to the young woman before anyone else. He held no trust towards the man that just stood in his office moments ago.
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The stench of horses never bothered Catherine Cormac, in fact, she rather enjoyed it. She found the creatures rather enjoyable. The dark mare relaxed as the redhead was brushing her down. The tail swayed every time Catherine reached up to scratch under the horses' chin. Catherine compared the animal's behaviors close to a dog's which she quite enjoyed. The animal's name was Socks due to the four white socks around her ankles.
Catherine gave Sock one last brush down before saddling her up for the journey to Connor's village. The young woman reached into her coat pocket to feed the beautiful animal a rich green apple. Her fingers touched nothing but fabric, the empty pocket surprised her a bit. Catherine realized she left the apple on the kitchen table along with a small pack lunch for her and Connor. She decided to pack a small meal for both of assassins, knowing that the journey was half a day's ride to his village.
"I'll be back," Catherine smiled as she petted the horse's long face. She walked out of Sock's stall before heading back towards the Davenport Manor. Rolling down her sleeves as she walked she hummed a shanty tune.
"Catherine, I see your fitting back in comfortably." Achilles spoke up as he sipped on morning tea.
The young assassin turned around to face the older man. "Achilles, I didn't see you there." Catherine pushed her hair back behind her shoulder as she took the packed lunch and apple into her bag. "Connor and I were about to head out."
"I've heard…"Achilles placed his teacup down, "How was Paris? I heard some of the older assassins gave you a rough time."
Catherine snorted, she could still remember her early days in training with Pierre Bellec. "Aye, but I got over it. Bellec wasn't that much to handle. In fact, it was much easier to get under his skin."
"You sound like your father with his arrogance."
Catherine huffed, "Achilles, I am tired of being compared to him that's where so many of my troubles began for me."
"Though, they did place you and Connor in charge of rebuilding the brotherhood. Dorian spoke with much confidence about you and your capabilities on taking such a task."
The look on Achilles' face humored Catherine in a way. He saw the irony in her leading as much as she did. Connor and Catherine's fathers were major roles in the Templar Order. Now, their children were destroying what they had built to achieve.
"The irony of it all." Catherine tightened the strings on her bag as she spoke. She stood their quiet for a moment, unsure what to say to the old man. She had hardly said a word to him since returning to the homestead.
Achilles arched his eyebrow at the young Cormac. "Child, is everything alright?"
Catherine's mind reverted to the truth she was told about the assassins trying to kill her as a child. She could never find the words to ask such a question about her past. She glanced towards the man with brown eyes.
"What happened when I was three? With my Uncle?" Catherine asked, hanging the dirty truth to hang out in the open.
Achilles sighed as he placed his teacup back on the table. "How long have you known about this?"
"Since I left,"
Achilles raised an eyebrow, "you have been holding onto to this knowledge since you left four years ago?"
"Aye…My father told me you and Liam the were behind trying to kill me."
"I never signed off on that. Your uncle was all in that. He had been the one to recruit Jeanson on his mission to harm you."
"Just because my mother wanted to keep her family together."
Achilles pushed out a chair with his cane to extend a seat for the young woman. "I may not understand your family dynamic." Catherine crossed the room to take a seat to face the older man. "Though I trust your mother did anything she could to protect you. I don't agree with what Liam and Hope have done to you either. Just as you don't agree with what I have done in the past." Achilles tapped his cane on the wooden floors to make his point. "I would ask if this changed your mind about the cause. Yet from what I've seen, it's both you and Connor that is leading the charge against the Templars."
"I just wanted to hear the truth from you." Catherine gnawed at her inner cheek as she listened to him talk. "It just causes hesitation to talk to you about my family history. Knowing I was once target in the eyes of the brotherhood for just who my parents are."
A blind man could see the tension that was between the younger woman and the old man. Neither one said anything to each other for a solid minute.
"I will warn you caution though, whatever you have a plan that is against the Templars. I doubt a large amount of money will keep the Templars away."
"But it will keep Connor's land safe. That is my first priority."
The silence broke when Connor's footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs, dressed in his assassin robes. She flashed him a smile as soon as he came into the kitchen, the tension faded from the two.
Out of nowhere, a loud clash could be heard coming from the front door like someone had just barge in.
"Ratonhnhakéton! Ratonhnhaké ton!" A man cried out. Catherine stood up recognizing the name, they were calling for Connor. She followed Connor into the main threshold of the house where a Native man around Connor's age stood.
Catherine asked but Achilles shushed her for a moment. "Who is it?"
"Kanen'to:kon? What has happened?!" Connor rushed to his friend while Catherine watched the two.
Catherine realized that the man who stood before her was Connor's old childhood friend he had told her about.
"William Johnson has returned with all the money required to buy our land!" Kanen'to:kon looked helpless as he pleaded with Connor. "He is meeting with the elders today. I have begged them to resist, but I fear he shall have his way unless you intervene."
Catherine gritted her teeth at the news, "How the hell did he get the money so quickly?"
"I do not know, but we will need to act fast." Connor said making eye contact with Catherine.
The young woman clutched her knuckles, "I am headin' to Johnson Hall, I think its time for me to make a counter offer.'
"The Templars are nothing if not resourceful. You should have heeded my waning. Catherine going up there face Johnson will be suicided."
Catherine saw the conflicted look on Connor's face watching his friend plead for his help. She didn't take a second longer before running upstairs to her bedroom where a lock chest laid with gold she had purchased. Taking few items of wealth and sticking them into her bag. She ran back downstairs where the two natives were waiting for her.
"I am going to go up to the estate myself to see if I can put a stop to it. Connor, I want you to wait for me. If I am not done with the meeting with Johnson, I want you to come in and kill him. I'll have Orla give the single." Catherine explained to her. "I don't think they will listen to me, but I can try to get this done without bloodshed. He knows me from when I was a child."
Kanen'to:kon glanced at his friend with a concerning look, speaking in Mohawk. Catherine could only understand a few words between them. He asked Connor if he trusted her in which Connor replayed he did.
"This is Catherine, the woman I told you about."
Kanen'to:kon eyes widen when he realized who Catherine was, "This is her? The one that worked on buying our land for us?"
"Yes, we can trust her."
"Very well then. We must hurry, we can sort out the details later."
Catherine nodded, "I hope this works." She sent a silent prayer to the lord as she walked out of the house. She pushed back her hair over her shoulder as she headed to the stables to hurry to Johnson Hall on horseback.